3 more Maqis officers remanded over meat cartel issue

Three assistant enforcement officers of the Malaysian Department of Quarantine and Inspection Services (Maqis) in Johor have been remanded for five days for alleged corrupt activities in connection with the meat cartel issue.

The remand order, from today until Jan 23, was issued by Johor Bahru Court registrar Nur Fathiah Mohd Fedzir following an application by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The three officers, aged between 40 and 55, were arrested at the state MACC headquarters at 7pm yesterday when they were called to give their statements.

It is understood that they are attached to the Maqis office at Tanjung Pelepas Port, Gelang Patah in Iskandar Puteri; the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex at Sultan Iskandar Building, Johor Bahru; and the Muar office.

This is the second arrest involving Maqis officers in Johor in connection with the meat cartel case.

On Jan 7, two officers aged 27 and 31 were arrested.

Last December, Maqis unearthed the activities of the cartel which brought in meat without a halal certificate before placing fake halal logos on the meat, for sale in the local market.